Top spot under siege in First Division North
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday November 25, 2016 14:54
Motlakase Power Dynamos will follow the Francistown action closely as any slip up by the leaders might see the Palapye side go top. Motlakase face Morupule Wanderers in a Palapye derby.
TAFIC and Highlanders last met in the 2012/2013 season when they were both in the Premiership. TAFIC won 2-1 at home before a 1-0 loss in Mahalapye.
TAFIC have been relentless since the beginning of the season and they have turned the Francistown Stadium into an assuming battlefield where giants Motlakase and ECCO have been battered 2-0 and 3-0 respectively. Maun Tigers, however, reminded TAFIC that they are not immortal with a 5-3 defeat.
They have recovered well with two victories and their coach, Blessing Moyo said the wins have made preparations easier in his camp. He said they have not changed their training routine and they are looking forward to the game.
“We are giving our players a similar dose and everybody is motivated,” he said. “This is a very special game for us. We have the opportunity to ascend to the top and how special will it be to knock the leaders down for ourselves.”
But Highlanders are not at the top by fluke. They are yet to lose a game and they have been good travellers winning three out of four and drawing the other on the road, scoring 10 and conceding three in the process.
They will approach the game looking to tighten their grip at the top of the log knowing that Motlakase is close by. A loss will mean TAFIC climb above them but for their coach Boyo Radipotsane, it is a game like any other.
“We are focused on finishing at the top of the log at the end of the first round. We are ready for the game and for us there is nothing special about it. TAFIC is equal to all our opponents and we treat all of them with the same respect,” he said.
Motlakase have also mounted a vicious campaign with a squad that is stingy at the back and brutal in attack. They have won five, drawn one and lost one and have conceded three goals and scored 12. David Bright’s Morupule will have to dig deep if they are to cause an upset.
In the other games on Saturday, Maun Tigers welcome Chobe United in Maun, GNT play Real Movers, Sua Flamingoes meet struggling FC Satmos and in the only Sunday match, ECCO and TASC clash in the Francistown derby.